02:33 - VIGJust sayin' I remember nikarg's Sodom review on the front page, that album was like 30 years old

02:27 - ScreamingSteelUSTechnically, Che's Manunkind review was too old to be featured on the front page. That was a special exception; usually, we prefer to keep our reviews within three-to-four months, with six months as an absolute cutoff.

02:14 - VIG@Radu Of course! I don't think it's too old to be featured on the front page. Look at Che's Manunkind review

00:09 - RaduPPublished a review for an album that's a bit too old to be featured on the front page, but you guys will read it, right? [link]

01. Opening Credits02. Across The Endless Sea Part II03. Assault On The Shore04. Master Of The Waves05. A Soldier's Letter06. Godsent07. At The Gates Of Morken08. Rise Of The Giants09. Score To A New Beginning10. End Credits

From the opening chords you know this is a Fairyland album. Funny, though, I didn't necessarily consider this a band with a signature sound until I put in Score to a New Beginning and realized there could be no mistake. Phillipe Giordana, the composer and keyboardist behind Fairyland, has continued to progress and refine his music while maintaining the warm sound of the symphonic power metal boom from the early part of this decade. This album is clearly his most sophisticated work yet.

The idea of Fairyland has had several incarnations; presently the band is Phillipe Giordana and different guest musicians for each album. Mr. Giordana has amassed quite an army with this one: the high skill level of the musicians is noticeable right away, and nothing is lost due to the impeccable production and mixing. (Too often in this genre the mix can deal a lethal blow to otherwise fine music - not here.) Each song takes you further and further into the mind-blowing energy of this music and each song is better than the one before.

Keyboards and "symphonic elements" dominate the landscape, which is also peppered with exceptional guest guitar solos. Variety comes as it's needed but the most important thing here is that each song flows seamlessly into the other. There is no obligatory ballad, or obligatory anything. Acoustic passages, spacey sounds, trumpets, and light female vocals are dropped in sparingly for no other reason than to support the particular need of the musical idea. The energy level just continues to build and doesn't let up for a second.

It's of course difficult to be completely groundbreaking when playing symphonic power metal these days but the word "solid" keeps coming to mind. It's as solid an album as I've heard in years.

A few people whom I usually trust their opinion as metal critics told me it's the best Fairyland album to date. Even a guy who didn't like Fairyland's albums until now says he enjoys this one.

By the way, Philippe Giordana is a very nice guy, intelligent and down to earth. I don't listen to Fairyland because it's not my cuo of tea but I have lots of respect for the man. An artist who takes the time to talk with people on forums in a normal and friendly tone, as if he was simply an 'unknown' poster like any other, earns my respect.

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"Why would we fear death, when life is so much more frightening?"

A few people whom I usually trust their opinion as metal critics told me it's the best Fairyland album to date. Even a guy who didn't like Fairyland's albums until now says he enjoys this one.

Why you all over power threads about this music you don't like or listen to, recalling hearsay from your friends?
Just seems a bit redundant when you're commenting reviews that are written by people who like or even will listen to the album, regardless if you are stalking the musicians or not

Why you all over power threads about this music you don't like or listen to, recalling hearsay from your friends?
Just seems a bit redundant when you're commenting reviews that are written by people who like or even will listen to the album, regardless if you are stalking the musicians or not

First ,you need to know that, while I'm not a PM fan anymore, I've been one for a long time years ago. I know the scene much more than many PM fans new to the genre.

Second, it just happens that I had not much to comment on these days.

Third, I might not like PM nowadays but it's not as if my posts were only bashing after bashing. I often talk more about infos (line-up details and things like that) than personal opinions.
On this thread, I only wished to give a little 'thumb up' to Phil, because he's really a nice guy.
And on the Thy Majestie thread, it was only curiosity, nothing more.
And on the Rhapsody thread, I talked about the band's situation and all, because I'm familiar with it. I was one of the main members of Rhapsody's forum until a few months ago, with over 3700 posts.

If it bothers you, sorry, but it's not my problem.

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"Why would we fear death, when life is so much more frightening?"

Why you all over power threads about this music you don't like or listen to, recalling hearsay from your friends?
Just seems a bit redundant when you're commenting reviews that are written by people who like or even will listen to the album, regardless if you are stalking the musicians or not

First ,you need to know that, while I'm not a PM fan anymore, I've been one for a long time years ago. I know the scene much more than many PM fans new to the genre.

Second, it just happens that I had not much to comment on these days.

Third, I might not like PM nowadays but it's not as if my posts were only bashing after bashing. I often talk more about infos (line-up details and things like that) than personal opinions.
On this thread, I only wished to give a little 'thumb up' to Phil, because he's really a nice guy.
And on the Thy Majestie thread, it was only curiosity, nothing more.
And on the Rhapsody thread, I talked about the band's situation and all, because I'm familiar with it. I was one of the main members of Rhapsody's forum until a few months ago, with over 3700 posts.

If it bothers you, sorry, but it's not my problem.

Yeah you aren't bashing which is definitely a good thing. Unlike the 'doom crew' that stalks for an easy Strato or Sonata thread. I was just curious more or less..
You get a lot of MS'ers who will stick to 'their' genre.. i listen to at least something from most genres so you will find me around too

Yeah you aren't bashing which is definitely a good thing. Unlike the 'doom crew' that stalks for an easy Strato or Sonata thread. I was just curious more or less..
You get a lot of MS'ers who will stick to 'their' genre.. i listen to at least something from most genres so you will find me around too

I think you understand me better now and see why I post on PM threads. Mostly, I check them to keep my knowledge updated as much as I can. I was afraid you found me obnoxious.

As for 'sticking to their genre', I might comment on BM, PM, DM, Prog and Thrash because I like/liked all these genres, listen or listened to them in the past, and know about all of them (at different degrees).
You will never see me post on Doom Metal threads because my knowledge on it is extremely poor. I never had the slightest trace of interest in Doom, for a few very specific reasons.
And you will never see me post again on threads about anything we can call 'modern metal'. I gave my opinion on these genres a while ago and it has been a foolish mistake on my part. It would have been better for me to shut up and I apologized for my lack of judgement.

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"Why would we fear death, when life is so much more frightening?"

I know, I heard many power metal albums, like this...but...Fairyland are for me big surprise.... This album is for me album of the year 2009 - melodic, energic, good voice, so...it´s not boring... So...